Sesamoiditis Symptoms and Treatments

Sesamoid bones are unique in the fact that they are not directly connected to another bone. The kneecap is the largest sesamoid bone and there are two small ones in the ball of each foot. These two pea-sized bones help tendons move and they absorb weight and pressure from your full weight. They can become overly-stressed and injured, causing severe pain and discomfort in a condition called sesamoiditis.

Symptoms of sesamoiditis may include the following:

Pain in the ball area of the foot near the big toe

Severe pain and discomfort when trying to bend or straighten the big toe

Swelling and bruising may be noticeable

An increase in pain when you move your big toe upward

Sesamoiditis develops slowly over time, so if you have rapid onset of pain in the ball of the foot, it may be due to a fracture